Frequently asked questions about COVID19-related travel changes answers by a local travel agent

Mollie Fitzgerald, co-owner of Frontiers International Travel, shared with Channel 11 frequent questions she’s been getting about refunds, flight cancellations and booking future trips.

Q: My non-stop flight has been cancelled and now I have a connection with a long layover. Can I get a Refund?

A: It varies from airline to airline and subject to change from day to day. For example, currently, Delta will issue a refund due to the change from nonstop to connection, but United, on the other hand, doesn’t allow that anymore. If the United schedule change doesn’t result in at least a six hour change in departure and/or arrival time from the original schedule all they qualify for is a free rebooking.

Q: My cruise has been cancelled. What happens to my non-refundable air ticket?

A: Again, it varies from airline to airline. Most airlines have waivers in place for imminent dates of travel that allow you to apply the value of the original ticket toward future travel, waiving the usual airline penalty fee to make a change. This sometimes depends on the date of original purchase of the ticket and airlines are giving you between 12-24 months to re-use it. If the airline cancels your flight, the ticket may qualify for refund; many flights are cancelled these days due to drastically reduced passenger demand and many routes are currently suspended (ie, all non-stop service to NYC, the British Airways Pittsburgh/London flight) but you may need to monitor it right up to the day before you were scheduled to leave. The key thing is to make sure you cancel it before the actual date of travel; if you no-show, you will not be able to re-use the ticket.

Q: Do I have to wear a mask when traveling domestically in the USA?

A: Yes, currently all major domestic and international airlines now require passengers to wear a mask for the duration of the flight.

Q: Are the borders between USA open with Canada and Mexico?

A: The border with Canada is now closed at least until June 21 when the issue will be re-assessed. The border with Mexico is open and there are flights to/from some cities in Mexico but all tourist infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, etc) are closed.

Q: If I book a new trip for later this summer or even for next year, what happens to my deposit if we still have COVID19?

A: You need to ask a lot of questions before putting money down. Many suppliers (including resorts, cruise lines, tour operators, etc) have implemented “book with confidence” terms and conditions that are relaxed and give you more flexibility to cancel or receive future travel credit.

Q: What will a hotel experience be like if I travel this summer?

A: it is important to manage expectations on this and it’s an evolutionary process that I think will change and adapt over time. Ask lots of questions in the booking process. Check-in will be different and many hotels are looking for ways to further automate the process. Even though the hotel may be open, their food & beverage facilities and/or spa/gyms may not be fully operational. Some properties are doing in –room dining only at least in the initial re-opening process. Ask about any restrictions on outdoor activities and onsite recreation which may have limitations

Q: I have a trip to Europe in July that we booked ages ago; will I be able to go?

A: No, it appears doubtful that you will be able to travel abroad in July. Firstly, there is the Level 4 Global Health Advisory issued by the US Department of State, issued March 31st and which remains in place, which advises: “U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.”

At the moment, while some countries in Europe are starting to relax restrictions and open their borders to neighboring countries, most countries in Europe have NOT opened their border to USA passport holders as yet and do not intend to do so for an indefinite period of time.

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